CO-OPERATIVE WORKS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10719, 12 October 1912, Page 5

CO-OPERATIVE WORKS

■DISCUSSED IX PARLIAMENT. „ A DIVERSITY' OV OPINION. {By Ttlcyraph— _ . ess Assuciution.) WELLINGTON, Last 2\ight. In the Hons..' oi R .'p'xscntatiyps this aitornoc.i } -ur J. S igor Brown (Napier) moved the first reading of the Co-operative Workers on Publi.' Works Bill. H 0 explained that the measure aimed at the bettering of the conditions under which men on cooperative works laboured. He held that the cessation of co-operative works such as had occurred at Napier was inimical to the best interests of the men and the country generally. It was a terrible thing that one man should have the power to suddenly stop work which Ijad been ordered by Parliament. The Minister for Public Works should not be an autocrat, but should carry out the will of Parliament. ' ; Mr G. W. Forbes (Burunui) said that before condemning the co-opera-tive works . system, the Minister should have made a thorough investigation. He hoped the Minister would not abolish the system. The Hon. W. Fraser: I never said. I Would. Mr Forbes: lam glad to have the Minister's contradiction oi' flic statement. Continuing, "Mr Forbes cr,ittended that if investigation were made the -Minister would find tint some of the waste lay at the dow of t?he engineering staff. Mr G. V. Poarce (Patea) maintained that the works at Napier should never have been started. Dozens of "first sods" had, been, turned just prior to the late Government going out of office. The works"had been undertaken with the public works fund, empty, and money at 5 per cent in London. He held that it would he better for the men and the country if the co-operative system were abolished. Mr W. D. S. Mac Donald (Bay of Plenty) held that it was very hard on men to employ them in the winter on works and then dismiss them when the long days came -and they could' earn good money. Mr H. G. Ell said the-men now had a system by which they could ballot out 'the wasters and classify themselves. Mr F. H. Smith ttVaitaki) said it was ridiculous to suppose that strong men would ballot their weaker colleagues out of a gang. He contended that the barrow system was out of date fifty years ago. The Hon. W.. Fraser said if they would make the co-operative system a small contract system, he was with tli em. ! Mr Forbes: "It is now." j Hon Mr W. Fraser: "You don't ; know much about it." Ho went on to say that the principle ■•>{ the cooperative works was not- the principle of small contracts. Why, he said, 'the Otago Central railway works i were a by-word in the district. Wlnt wa.s really wanted, he said, was move inspection, and the nivnccfion did not end with the .'avvi'"""-. 1 no ganger® needed watching too. iTlear. hear). Ho in-sis'tedi that the :v«'i should have the right to select th'ir t'-v mates. In connection ivilh the N-nier works, he juid be w»L'j«ed to sanction a wasteful method of carrying cut the public works of the Dominioi. • Mr C. TC. Wilson (Tanninrmnui) stated that the co-operative labourers themselves were thoroughly dissatisfied, and had universally condemned the system. He knew of cases whore groups had to sit down for a week waiting for the overseer to come along. Mr R. MeKennie k;UI. Government members were the only ones wlio condemned the system. He had received very few complaints during the three years he administered the Department He pointed out that throughout the Dominion local bodies carried out earthworks on the co- , operative system. The Bill was read a- first time.